The general objectives of this study are to estimate the rate of adoption of improved bean varieties released in Honduras since 1987, estimate the ex post economic rate of return to the development and adoption of these varieties, and investigate the agronomic, market and consumption characteristics of traditional and improved bean varieties that help to explain patterns of varietal use by Honduran bean farmers. Collaborative research on beans in Honduras by the USAID-funded Bean/Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Project (CRSP), the bean program at Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Zamorano), PROFRIJOL (a regional network funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC), and DICTA (the national agricultural research program) has resulted in the release of many improved varieties since 1987. Data collection for this study included a farmer survey (N=210) in the three main bean-producing departments of Honduras (El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan and Olancho), implemented in January- February 2001. These departments account for over 60% of national bean production. In addition, the survey team conducted "bean price experiments" with bean traders in the three regions to gain a rough measure of price premiums/ discounts for bean coloring, size, shape, etc., of improved beans formerly released, as well as some promising experimental lines. Adoption rates and yields from this survey, as well as from a CRSP-funded 1994 survey in the same three departments, will be used along with experimental yield data to estimate the financial and economic rates of return to the CRSP / Zamorano/PROFRIJOL investments in bean research in Honduras. In addition, sub-sector analysis, combined with farmer varietal preferences, will help to explain patterns of varietal adoption, non-adoption, and dis-adoption, to suggest priorities for future bean breeding activities, and to recommend the nature and implementation of continued socio-economic research to support the Honduran bean breeding programs at Zamorano and DICTA. Martel's 1994 survey and analysis highlighted the differential agronomic and market characteristics most valued by different types of farmers in their bean varieties. For example, Dorado, an improved variety with BGMV resistance, enjoyed reasonable popularity among valley farmers, who saved more revenue in stable yields (due to BGMV resistance) than they lost from Dorado's 15% price discount by traders due to its dark color. On the other hand, BGMV was not as serious a problem for most highland farmers, who thus adopted Catrachita instead-a high-yielding variety with little disease resistance but better market acceptance. In 1997, Zamorano released Tio Canela, an improved variety with the disease resistance beyond that of Dorado and an improved (lighter red) color, thus intended to be more desirable to both valley and highland farmers. The recent survey will therefore give the Zamorano and DICTA bean programs its first feedback on farmers' reaction to this new release, and the trader interviews will provide additional information regarding the market acceptance of Tio Canela. Although this survey data is currently being analyzed, initial data analysis suggests several findings. As anticipated, adoption of Tio Canela is not very high given that the Honduran seed system is woefully underdeveloped. More surprisingly, many farmers who have experimented with Tio Canela (and even some who previously grew Dorado) have switched back to traditional varieties. This implies that; a) the experimental yield advantage of Tio Canela does not hold up under farmer conditions; b ) Tio Canela receives a significant price discount; c) disease pressure in many areas has changed considerably, thus making the resistance embodied by Tio Canela less valuable to farmers.

English

0310|AGRIS 0301|AL-Economics Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection